Closure cap



D. D. ACTON CLOSURE CAP Filed Dec. 50, 1949 Patented Mar. 31, 1953OFFICE CLOSURE CAP Daniel D. Acton,

Anchor Hocking Lancaster, Ohio, assignor to Glass Corporation,

Lancaster,

Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application December 30, 1949, SerialNo. 135,973 4 Claims. (01. 21540) The present invention relates toclosure caps of the type adapted to be applied to receptacles orcontainers by forcing them down over the mouth of the container, and topackages sealed by the closure cap.

At the present time closure caps of the force fi or "pressed down typehave, for a great many products, superseded the use of closures of thereformable skirt type. The latter form secure seals with containers butare objectionable as they require special apparatus or machinery tochange the shape of the closure skirt after the closure is placed on acontainer. In addition, reformable skirt type closures are objectionablein that they generally require a longer time to apply to containers andhence a smaller number of such packages may be sealed in a given timewhen compared with the formation of packages sealed by pressing closurecaps down on containers.

While the pressed on closures have been widely used and are generallypreferred it has been found that some packaged products generate orrelease a pressure which tends to blow the closure off the container.This has been found to be true with pickles, for example.

The present invention aims to overcome the above and other difiicultiesor disadvantages by providing an improved closure cap of the presseddown type which may be readily applied by existing sealing machines andwhich will form more secure or positive seals that better resist blowoff pressures from within the container. The invention furthercontemplates the provision of an improved sealed package embodying thepresent closure cap.

An object of the present invention is to provide a. new and improvedclosure cap.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved sealedpackage.

Another object is to provide an improved closure cap which will betterresist blow oiT pressures from within a container.

Afurther object is to provide an improved closure cap of the presseddown type which may utilize a thinner gasket and yet form an adequateseal with the container.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedclosure cap that will better hold against internal pressures and whichmay nevertheless be readily removed when desired.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon anunderstanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or

will be indicated in the appended claims, and

2 various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled inthe art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes ofillustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings,forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged elevational view, partly broken away and partly insection, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the closure 0 p ofFig. 1 prior to its application to a container;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating theclosure of Fig. 2 applied to a container; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a slightly different formofclosure cap.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is shown asealed package comprising a container l, closure cap 2, and rubbersealing gasket 3 between the container and the closure cap. The upperend of the container preferably slopes downwardly and outwardly to mergesmoothly into an outwardly extending projection or bead 1 formedannularly around the container. This container projection 1 preferablyhas a generally arcuate exterior cross section and its underside curvesgradually into and merges with a side wall portion of the container. Apry-off ledge 8 spaced below the sealing projection 1 provides supportfor a knife blade or coin in connection with removal of the closure 2 byprying upwardly at one side of it.

The closure cap comprises a cover portion or panel I 0 and a dependingskirt, the latter having an outwardly offset lower portion I I connectedwith the upper part of the closure by a generally horizontal ledge 12.The lower edge of the closure cap is turned inwardly to provide a gasketretaining ledge I3. Phe gasket 3, preferably of vulcanized rubber, inthe offset portion or enlargement ll of the closure cap cooperates withthe container projection 1 to form an air tight seal between the closureand the container. It will be noted (Fig. 2) that the inner peripheralwall I6 of the gasket forms, in effect, a continuation of the upperinner periphery [5 of the closure cap.

The outer wall of the offset enlargement H is shown in the shape of arelatively wide V. That is, the upper portion 19 of the outer wallinclines outwardly and downwardly toward an intermediate point 20 andthe lower portion 2| of the outer wall inclines downwardly and inwardlyaway from the intermediate point 20, to thus provide a wall which isconcave toward the interior of the closure cap. The intermediate point20 at which the upper and lower inclined portions l9 and 2! meet ispreferably located at about the mid-point or central zone of the onsetor enlargement II. A gasket 3 in the offset enlargement prior toapplication of the closure cap to a container (Fig. 2) may rest, at itsupper and lower outer peripheral portions, against end portions of theinwardly concave V-shaped wall. The space 22 between the upper and lowerincline portions l9 and -21 accommodates gasket material, which isparticularly desirable in the event the cap is forced onto a containerwhich may embody a maximum tolerance; the space 22 provides a reservoirfor accommodating excess gasket material.

As the closure cap is forced downwardly over a container mouth thegasket 3 moves along the container bead or projection 1 until the majorportion of its cross section is disposed below the center line The upperclosure cap ledge 12 forces the-gasket downwardly and the Vshaped orinclined outer walls of the gasket-containing enlargement 'direct thegasket inwardly; the gasket thus flows 2'5 of the projection or issqueezed around and below the container projection 1 (noteparticularlyFig. -3)-,

In fully seated relationship, the mid-point 20 of the onset closureenlargement is disposed below the mid-point or center line of thecontainer projection I inthe preferred embodiment.

"The upper inclined portion l9 slopes outwardly away 'from the upperpart of the projection 1 and the lower inwardly inclined portion 2|slopes in toward the underside of the container projection I so as tosqueeze or direct the gasket 3 firmly beneath the projection l. Agreater cross sectional area of the gasket 3 is thus disposed beneaththe bead than above 'it and hence resists internal pressure effectiveagainst the underside of the closure cap. The upper horizontal portion12 and the outwardly inclined portion l9 tend to squeeze the gasketdownwardly below the center line 25 of thecontainer projection 1 and theinwardly inclined closure portion 2i tends to squeeze the gasket beneaththe container projection I. The bottomledge l3 of the closure holds thegasket beneath the container head I and prevents it from escapingdownwardly.

The outwardly inclined upper skirt portion 19 and the inwardly inclinedlower skirt portion 2| serve to strengthen theside wall of the closurecap and to resist'forces tending to spreader flare the cap skirt, thusfacilitating use of thinner metal for the cap. This strenghthened skirtis particularly useful in instances where -a tight fit or highcompression may occur between the container and closure skirt withitsgasket.

The described construction gives a concentration of gasket and ofholdingpressures beneath the container projection 1, to thus lock the closurecap against upward movement. The skirt withi'ts angled upper and lowerportions 49 and '2! givesenhanced cap side wall strength and friction orgripping of the sealing gasket against the glass container. Theconstruction readily resists upward blowing off pressures of aboutfifteen pounds per square inch. Yet concentrated closure-tiltingpressure of -a knife 'liladecr opener applied at one side of Vtheglosure servant remove the closure without difliculty.

4 Of course, the additional looking or holding on pressures forces arealso desirable with products which do not tend to blow the closure capsupwardly off the containers.

As a result of the improved holding on pressures it is feasible to use athinner gasket material than previously. Also, the gasket length or cutmay be increased over previous similar gaskets to provide optimumcooperation or holding with a container projection l. V In Fig. 4 thereis shown a slightly diiferent form of the invention, in that the upperand lower inclined wall portions I90, and Na meet each other at asmaller angle, to thus provide a gasket-receiving space 22a of greatervolume. The angle of the V may be suitably varied to give appropriatelocking" effects on a container. Also, while excellent results have beenobtained by having the upper end lower inclined portions meet at aboutthe mid-point 20 of the ofiset or enlargement, they may meet somewhathigher or lower, as desired, to provide optimum retention of the closurecap on a container.

It will be seen that the present invention provides a new and improvedclosure cap and sealed package, the closure ca'p being more effectivelyheld onto the container to resist internal pressures. The inwardlyconcave V shape of the outer gasket-enlargement walls directs the gasketbelow the container projection and maintains it there to effectivelylock together the closure and container. The concave angulargasket-enlargement or channel strengthens the skirt of the cap andresists flaring tendencies, as well as provides a gasket receiving spaceto better accommodate containers of varying tolerances. The excellentresistance to internal pressures makes it possible to use a thinnergasket. In spite of the more secure seal the closure may be readilyremoved by prying 'it upwardly at one side.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangementof theparts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to beunderstood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrativeand not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

'1. -A sealed package comprising the combination of a container havingan annular projection of relatively heavy cross section spaced below theupper end thereof, a sheet metal closure cap including a cover portionand a depending skirt having a generally upright inset :upper wall and agenerally upright outwardly offset lower wall joined together by aconnecting wall,-said lower wall being substantially -V-shaped in crosssection with the apex oi the V spaced outwardly beyond the remainder ofsaid :lower wall to provide a V-shapedspace, the apex of said -V beingpositioned below an annular zone of maximum diameter of said containerprojection, arr-annular gasket-retaining ledge of greater inner diameterthan the maximum diameter of said container projection extendinginwardly from said V- shaped wall,and an annular gasket insaid skirtbetween said'connecting wall and said ledge, said gasket being pressedinto said V-shaped space with themajority thereof located'below' saidmaximum diameter container zone and forming a seal between said V-shapedwall and said annular container projection.

2. -A closure capof theipreformed type'ada gite '76 to form a seal witha container upon being pushed of the bulge at substantially the middleof the lower portion, and an annular elastic gasket within said lowerportion between said shoulder and flange and of a height coextensivewith said lower portion having a generally upright outer surface facingtoward and spaced throughout its circumference from the central portionof said inwardly concave surface of the lower skirt portion and restingadjacent its top and bottom edges against said top and bottom edges ofthe lower skirt portion.

3. A closure cap of the preformed type adapted to form a seal with acontainer upon being pushed down over the container mouth, comprising acover, an annular depending skirt having generally upright lower andupper portions connected by a radially extending shoulder portion, saidlower portion being of greater diameter than said upper portion, saidlower portion having a cross section of substantially V-shape with theapex of the V substantially at the middle thereof disposed outwardly tothereby form an annularly extending inwardly concave surface, aninturned flange at the bottom of said lower portion to support a gasket,and a cylindrical rubbery ring gasket within said lower portion betweensaid flange and shoulder portion having a height substantially equal tosaid lower skirt portion and having a cylindrical outer surface facingtoward and spaced from said apex of the V but disposed closely adjacentthe top and bottom portions of said inwardly concave surface of thelower skirt portion.

4. A closure cap of the preformed type adapted to form a seal with acontainer upon being pushed down over the container mouth, comprising acover, an annular depending skirt having generally upright lower andupper portions connected by a generally horizontal shoulder portion,said lower portion being of greater diameter than said upper portion,said lower portion bulging outwardly from top and bottom edges thereofand forming an inwardly concave surface with its maximum diametersubstantially at the middle of the lower portion, a generally horizontalgasket supporting ledge extending inwardly from the bottom edge of saidlower portion, and an annular gasket within said lower portion betweensaid horizontal shoulder and ledge and projecting inwardly beyond saidledge, having generally upright inner and outer surfaces with amid-portion of said outer surface spaced throughout the gasketcircumference from said inwardly concave surface of the lower skirtportion and with only top and bottom outer corners of the gasketnormally resting against said top and bottom edges of the outwardlybulging lower skirt portion.

DANIEL D. ACTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 15,259 Hammer Jan. 3, 1922855,782 Hull June 4, 1907 1,117,792 Colby Nov. 17, 1914 1,863,025 MullenJune 14, 1932 2,025,031 Algeo et al Dec. 24, 1935 2,079,813 Podel May11, 1937 2,080,747 Scofield May 18, 1937 2,135,731 Podel Nov. 8, 19382,136,545 Gibbs Nov. 15, 1938 2,200,081 Gibbs May 7, 1940 2,441,918 HogeMay 18, 1948 2,562,548 Hanson July 31, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 484,161 Great Britain Apr. 29, 1938

